Lubricant dispensing means and system

ABSTRACT

A means and method for dispensing a viscous fluid in metered amounts to provide lubricity for metal drawing in a forming press and which includes a positive displacement pump having an integral piston head and plunger construction, one-way ball check valves in inlet and outlet flow passages, spray nozzles connected to the pumps outlet ports by flexible conduit lines and swival mounted on magnetic mounting blocks for positioning ease, adjustment means on the pump for metering control by positioning an abutment stop within the piston chamber area, and a manually operated air valve for cyclic operation of the fluid pump in the normal operating use of the forming press.

United States Patent [191 Maddock Apr. 15, 1975 1 LUBRICANT DISPENSINGMEANS AND SYSTEM [76] Inventor: Edwin A. Maddock, 1510 Cherokee,

Related U.S. Application Data [62] Division ofSer. No. 101,880, Dec. 28,1970, Pat. No.

[52] U.S. C1 72/23; 72/45 [51] Int. Cl B2lj 3/00 [58] Field of Search72/41-45, 201, 72/23, 21; 184/55 A, 56 A; 222/309, 334; 417/403, 571

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,250,247 5/1966 Beaman417/403 X 3,370,545 2/1968 Waibel 417/571 3,427,840 2/1969 Richter 72/443,431,953 3/1969 Rutherford 222/309 3,497,111 2/1970 Savage 222/309 X3,561,238 2/1971 Tetzlo'ff et al. 72/45 X 3.756051 9/1973 Rebsamen eta1. M 72/45 X FOREIGN PATENTS APPLICATIONS 1,804,652 5/1970 GermanyPrimary Examiner-C. W. Lahham Assistant Examiner-E. M. Combs Attorney,Agent, or FirmDa'le A. Winnie 57 ABSTRACT A means and method fordispensing a viscous fluid in metered amounts to provide lubricity formetal drawing in a forming press and which includes a positivedisplacement pump having an integral piston head and plungerconstruction, one-way ball check valves in inlet and outlet flowpassages, spray nozzles connected 2 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures LUBRICANTDISPENSING MEANS AND SYSTEM This is a division of application Ser. No.101,880 filed Dec. 28, 1970, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,759,424.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Sheet metal that is used in a stampingpress, to form work parts, where there is any draw of the metal in theforming operation, usually requires some preparation ahead of time. Thatis, the sheet metal usually needs to be sprayed, coated or otherwisetreated with some type of lubricating material at least in the criticalareas of the draw where tears or ruptures in the material due tofrictional forces inhibiting proper metal flow might otherwise occur.These areas include corners and confined spaces, in the dies, and wherethe draw is relatively deep for the gauge or thickness of the sheetmaterial that is used.

Spraying a lubricant into the dies or on the sheet metal in the dies, atthe stress areas, is usually preferred to dipping, coating or other spottreatment because less lubricating material is used. In this regard, asolid stream or jet spray is better than an atomized spray since thelatter involves overspray problems.

The better the directional control of the spray the less lubricatingmaterial that is required to do ajob and the greater savings there is.This is true not only in the use of less lubricant but there is also asavings in the clean-up required afterwards.

The amount of lubricant required in any given situation depends on thelubricity needed, which in turn depends on the surface tension of thework material, the frictional forces generated in the draw, etc. No moreshould be provided than can be used in the draw or draws to beperformed, to minimize or avoid clean-up problems afterwards. All thesefactors must be considered, but equally important is the system to meterand provide the precise amounts at the exact location where needed,irrespective of the viscosity of the lubricant, be it extremely light orheavy, or of the relative quantity or even different spot locations tobe serviced.

Heretofore such systems have had to be tailored for each and every job,at considerable engineering and installation expense. No equipment hasbeen available which would provide the capacity needed for asufficiently wide range of applications to enable its use for a numberof different situations, quantity, or viscosity requirements.

A duplication of systems is not the answer, since it merely doublescosts. Greater viscosity of itself should not require larger sized fluidlines, bigger nozzles,-

larger chamber areas, different fluid pumps. There is need for a jetspray system for metal forming operations and other uses that previouslyjust have not been available.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a new andnovel positive displacement pump and a fluid supply system that isparticularly designed to handle lubricating fluids for metal forminguses.

The particular pump disclosed hereinafter is very small and compact indesign, includes a minimum of separate parts and/or subassemblies sothat it is very easy and inexpensive to manufacture and assemble foruse. Means are provided for not only close but very precise metered flowcontrol through the several different outlets that may be used, both byvolume control means and by quick response flow control check valves.

Flexible flow control lines and jet nozzles mounted for swivelpositioning on magnetic blocks, enable ready positioning and changes asneeded for the best possible directional control on a job.

Air valve operation of the pump assures positive response and controlfor each call for lubricating fluid made by a stamping press in thecourse of its metal forming operation.

These and other features of the present invention will be morefullydescribed in the description of a preferred embodiment whichfollow.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES FIG. 1 is a diagramatic layout of thedifferent component parts of the spray system of the present invention.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are cross-sectional views through the fluid pump showingthe positive displacement piston part in different operative positionsin the different figures.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken from the preceding figure in theplane of line 44 therein and showing most-of the fluid passages andpassageways in the pump body.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the lower part of the pump body asseen in the plane of line 55 in FIG. 4, to show a different view ofcertain of the fluid flow passages.

FIG. 6 is a side view ofthe pump, as seen in the plane of line 66 inFIG. 4, showing the air pressure inlet parts and passages, principally.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a fragmentary part of the pump withthe air valve operating means shown diagramatically therewith.

FIG. 8 is a side elevation of a stamping press with the hydraulic spraysystem of the present invention installed for use thereon.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The hydraulic spray system ofthe present invention includes a reservoir tank 10 to which is connectedthe positive displacement pump 12, through a filter 14. The pump 12 iscontrolled by a four-way air valve 16 and is shown connected to twoseparate spray nozzles 18 and 20, in the first drawing figure.

The tank 10 is made of a translucent plastic material, so that the levelof lubricant in it is always visible. It is also made with reinforcingribs 22 which serve both structurally and as sort of sight gauges toshow the amount of lubricating fluid that remains in the tank. A cover24 closes the top of the tank and enables the reservoir tank to be usedas the shipping container for the whole system, with the shut-off valve26 at the outlet port removed and stored with the fluid lines and otherparts in the tank.

Polypropolene or other suitable plastic tubing is used for all of thefluid lines, in whatever lengths are required. A short piece 28 connectsthe shut-off valve 26 on the tank to the filter l4 and another piece 30connects the filter to the pump 12. Air lines 32, 34 and 36 connect thevair valve 16 to an air pressure supply source and the valve to the pump12. And, fluid lines 38 and 40 are from the pump to the spray nozzles 18and 20.

The positive displacement pump 12 is an important part of the overallsystem. It includes a body housing part 42 within which is provided apiston chamber area 44 that is closed by a cover part 46 which includesmeans for setting a stop that limits the stroke of the fluid dispensingpiston in the pump.

The piston member in the pump includes an enlarged head end 48 fitted inthe piston chamber area 44 and having suitable rings 52 and seals 54 tomake it hold a good seal and be responsive to air pressure on oppositesides. The innermost end 56 of the piston member is smaller and made tofit through a sealing ring 58 held in the lower end of the chamber area44 by a snap ring 60 in a receptive snap ring groove 62. It has fluidseals 64, through which the plunger end 56 of the piston extends, andits own O-ring seal 66 next to the chamber wall.

The sealing ring 58 is also formed to provide an annular space 68between itself and the chamber wall which registers with an air passage70 in the housing wall.

There is, in turn, a passage 72 through it that communicates with theunderside of the piston head 48.

The innermost end of the chamber space 44 is formed to provide a smallerarea 74 within which the smaller end 56 of the pump piston is moreclosely received. There is, however, clearance space between the two toallow fluid flow between them, as best shown in FIG. 3.

A blind passage 76 is formed under the retainer ring 58 on one side ofthe pump space 74 and another, identified as 78, is formed across fromit, on the other side. These are the inlet and outlet passageways,respectively. that connect to the pump space 74 and each has a one-wayball check valve 80 and 82 in it for the intended directional flow. Alight spring 84 holds the check valve ball 80 down on a seat 86 formedin the passageway 76 while a spring 88 in the other passageway 78 holdsits check valve ball 82 up against a seating ring 90. The seating ringhas an O-ring seal 92 around it, to prevent any by-pass fluid flow, andit is spaced apart from the retainer ring 58 by spacer parts 94 that areformed on it to allow fluid flow around and through 11.

FIG. 4 shows the inlet passage 96 that the filter line 30 is connectedto in providing fluid through ball check valve 80 to the pump 12. Italso shows the passageway 98 that connects to the outlet manifoldpassage 100 from which there are five separate outlet ports; identified101, 102, 103, 104, 105. In the first figure, only outlet parts 102 and104 are in use, with supply lines 38 and 40 which connect to the twospray nozzles used in this particular embodiment.

Also shown in this drawing figure is the air inlet passage 70 thatconnects with the air inlet port 106 which has the air line 36 from thefour-way valve connected, in turn, to it. A second air control passage108 is provided in the housing body 42 between an inlet port 110 and theupper end thereof, just under the cover part 46 and inside of the airseal gasket 112, so that it supplies air to the other side of the pistonhead 48.

The cover member 46 for the pump housing 42 is fastened to it by fourrecessed socket head screws, one in each corner, not shown. It has acenter opening 114 which is threaded and it has an adjustable stop 116in it with a head end 118 recessed into the cover part over the pistonhead 48, when fully withdrawn. It also serves to restrict, the stroke ofthe piston, and hence the amount of fluid that will be moved by thepump, when 'turned down into the chamber area 44.

An O-ring seal 120 around the stop end 118 prevents blow-by and assuresagainst pressure loss at the cover end.

A knob 122 is fastened to the threaded post 116 of the stop, by a screw124, and includes a set screw 126 in its side wall flange, to hold andfix it in position (and hence the stop) in initially setting the pumprequirments to specifications.

The four way valve connections to work the pump 12, are showndiagramatically in FIG. 7.

The air valve 16, when energized, allows air flow through passageconnections 128 and 130 to the flow lines 36 and 34 (reference FIG. 1)which connect to the passages and ports on opposite sides of the pistonhead 48. When the air valve is de-energized, the passage connections 132and 134 in the valve connect to the flow lines 36 and 34 and the flow isin reverse, which retracts the piston and moves it toward its coverclosure 46.

The air valve 16 is operated, to accomplish the change from direct tocross flow, by means of a control 136 which has a rod 138 set throughone side of it and which serves to operate it when the rod contacts, oris contacted, by something.

FIG. 8 shows the system as installed for use on a stamping press 130.

The ram 132 is raised above the bed plate or platen 134 and shows thedie form 136 over the reverse image die mold 138. The reservoir tank 10is mounted on one side of the press, as is the filter 14, while the pump12 and air valve 16 are disposed on part of the press frame 140relatively over the ram 132.

When the ram is raised, as shown, it contacts (or in cludes means forcontacting) the lever rod 138 on the air valve 14 which energizes thevalve and allows air flow through flow line 34 into the pump 12. The airflow is via port 110 and passage 108 to over the piston 48, as shown inFIG. 7. Piston plunger part 56 pushes fluid from the smaller chamberspace 74 through check valve 82, passage 98 and into the outlet manifoldpassage 100 from which it passes into the two operative outlets 102 and104. These are connected by flexible flow lines 38 and 40 to the spraynozzles 18 and 20.

The spray nozzles 18 and 20 are mounted in swival block supports onmagnetic stay blocks and 200 which enables them to be positioned whereand as desired and to be moved and changed as necessary to obtain thevery best spray distribution pattern possible.

When the stamping press ram begins its descent, the lever rod 138 isreleased and the air valve control 136 (under internal spring load)returns the valve to its deenergized position which connects the airpressure line to the pump line 36 and, in turn, via passages 70 and 72to the underside of piston head 48. This draws the piston plunger 56 outof the pump space 74, allows fluid pressure to unseat the ball checkvalve 80, and fluid to flow into and refill the pump space 74.

As will be appreciated, the fluid line pressure, for the lubricatingspray fluid, is not enough to unseat the check valve ball 82, againstthe spring load holding it closed. It is only when the piston plunger 56begins its descent and increases the unit pressure that the outlet ballcheck is popped open.

The piston member 48 in the pump is moved back towards the cover end 46until it is stopped against the cover or the stop 118 if the latter isset-out therebelow. The travel of the piston determines the amount offluid the pump will move and so setting the stop 118 down into thechamber area space 44 to limit its stroke will accomplish thisobjective. Actually, once the number of spray nozzles is determined,what their fluid requirements will be, viscosity of the fluid is known,etc., the stop 118 is set by the knob 122 and its position is fixed bythe set-screw 126. Its position is adjusted only in recalibrating thepump for the requirements of the system it serves.

I claim:

1. A lubricating spray system for use with metal forming presses andincluding a positive displacement fluid pump, a source of air underpressure connected to said pump for operation thereof, a source oflubricating fluid connected to said pump, a plurality of flow nozzlesconnected to said pump for receiving and dispensing a lubricating spraytherethrough, said pump comprising a one piece housing member having twocontiguous chamber area spaces of respectively larger and smallerdiametric size formed therewithin and from one end thereof, inlet andoutlet passage means for viscous fluid formed in communication with saidsmaller chamber area space and having inlet and outlet check valvesdisposed respectively within the inner ends thereof, an intermediatemember received and retained within said larger chamber area space andforming an end wall for both of said chamber area spaces and an abutmentwall retentive of said check valves in said inlet and outlet passagemeans, passage means provided at opposite ends of said larger chamberarea space for selective alternate communication with an air pressuresupply source and an atmospheric vent, a differential piston memberhaving its larger end received and guided within said larger chamberarea space and its smaller end received and guided through saidintermediate member and into said smaller chamber area space forinducing fluid flow thereinto and therefrom, and a cover member forclosing the open end of said housing and having adjustable meansprovided therethrough and into said larger chamber area space forlimiting the travel of the larger end of said differential piston memberand thereby the volumetric induction and displacement of fluid by itssmaller end within said smaller chamber area space, and operative meansin the connection between the air pressure source and the pump forcyclic control of the pump in accord with the operation of the metalforming press with which the system is used. I

2. The lubricating spray system of claim 1, said operative meansincluding an air flow control valve having passage means for alternatelyconnecting the passages at opposite ends of said larger chamber areaspace to said air pressure source and to vent to atmosphere, and manualmeans operative of said passage means and including a lever arm adaptedfor actuation by a part of the metal forming press in the course of itsmetal forming use and need for lubricating spray.

1. A lubricating spray system for use with metal forming presses andincluding a positive displacement fluid pump, a source of air underpressure connected to said pump for operation thereof, a source oflubricating fluid connected to said pump, a plurality of flow nozzlesconnected to said pump for receiving and dispensing a lubricating spraytherethrough, said pump comprising a one piece housing member having twocontiguous chamber area spaces of respectively larger and smallerdiametric size formed therewithin and from one end thereof, inlet andoutlet passage means for viscous fluid formed in communication with saidsmaller chamber area space and having inlet and outlet check valvesdisposed respectively within the inner ends thereof, an intermediatemember received and retained within said larger chamber area space andforming an end wall for both of said chamber area spaces and an abutmentwall retentive of said check valves in said inlet and outlet passagemeans, passage means provided at opposite ends of said larger chamberarea space for selective alternate communication with an air pressuresupply source and an atmospheric vent, a differential piston memberhaving its larger end received and guided within said larger chamberarea space and its smaller end received and guided through saidintermediate member and into said smaller chamber area space forinducing fluid flow thereinto and therefrom, and a cover member forclosing the open end of said housing and having adjustable meansprovided therethrough and into said larger chamber area space forlimiting the travel of the larger end of said differential piston memberand thereby the volumetric induction and displacement of fluid by itssmaller end within said smaller chamber area space, and operative meansin the connection between the air pressure source and the pump forcyclic control of the pump in accord with the operation of the metalforming press with which the system is used.
 2. The lubricating spraysystem of claim 1, said operative means including an air flow controlvalve having passage means for alternately connecting the passages atopposite ends of said larger chamber area space to said air pressuresource and to vent to atmosphere, and manual means operative of saidpassage means and including a lever arm adapted for actuation by a partof the metal forming press in the course of its metal forming use andneed for lubricating spray.